EYEING THE BIG PICTURE

NOW YOU SEE ME (2013)
4 and a half out of 5 stars

Four magicians collectively known as the Four Horsemen pull of a bank heist in the midst of their show and draws the attention of the FBI agent, an Interpol detective and a former magician who earns his keep by revealing other magicians’ tricks.

First of all, JESSE EISENBERG! OMG I just love it when he rattles off like nobody’s business. There were a group of girls screaming for Dave Franco but I’m not really into him. Sure, his fight scene with Mark Ruffalo has got to be one of the most unusual and original ones I’ve seen. Flash paper, a slicing deck of cards, mirrors and all sorts of magical apparatus were used in this fight.

It is perhaps a little hasty to give it such a high score but my mind was really blown after watching this movie. On hindsight, it seems a little all-over-the-place and the conclusion may be a little hasty because I figured it completely during the end credits. What I liked what how they used simple magic tricks on a large scale (you have to watch to understand what I’m talking about). The whole thing may be a little mind-boggling but when was the last time your mind was boggled?

DON’T BE CREEPY

WARM BODIES (2013)
4 and a half out of 5 stars

R: God, we move slow. This could take a while.

OMG!!! This is one of my most anticipated movies of the year!!!

Based on the book by Isaac Marion, R is a zombie unlike the others. Sure, he has an appetite for human brains but he also has an eclectic taste in music and a longing for a more cultured afterlife. He meets Julie on a raid and keeps her safe in his lair. What happens is an unconventional love story between a zombie and a human being.

Well, this is another movie that’s being marketed as the next Twilight but please, it is so different! There’s little variation from the book except the part of the zombie wife but that wasn’t really relevant anyway. Some parts were funny, like R’s inner monologue and how his awkwardness with girls makes him want to die all over again. R’s relationship with Julie sparks a revolution among the zombies and they are on the run from humans who wants to kill zombies and the Boneys (zombies who have lost all trace of humanity) because they sparked a revolution among the other zombies.

M: They say… “Fuck, yeah!”

While R has the most lines among the zombies, his friend, M (Rob Corddry) does steal the scenes when he speaks. It is quite strange to see solidarity among zombies but it goes to show not all qualities die along with civilization. The final scene is slightly different from the book but fan wouldn’t be disappointed. I won’t spoil too much of the story but it is a really nice story and everyone should go watch it. The zombies aren’t as scary as those on The Walking Dead (which I am currently crazy about) and there isn’t as much gore so people who are afraid of blasting brains should watch in ease.

WHY DIDN’T IT BLOW UP?

21 JUMP STREET (2012)
– 4 out of 5 stars

This has got to be one of the funniest films this year!

Based on the TV series that made Johnny Depp, Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill star as two cops who go undercover in a high school to stop a new but fatal synthetic drug.

Here they are, young cops looking for car chases and explosions and all they’ve got to worry about are parties, being cool and whether they should be one-strapping or double-strapping their haversacks. One of the highlights was when Schmidt and Jenko took the drugs and were high as hell. What follows was really crazy, like Channing Tatum clashing into the gongs. The other highlight has to be the Prom and look out for a cameo by Johnny Depp – or if you were well-trained to his cheekbones, you’d have spotted him way before the others.

PETER VINCENT TO THE RESCUE

FRIGHT NIGHT (2011)
– 4 out of 5 stars

This movie scared the shit out of me. Colin Farrell is very hot as the vampire in the day but at night, those fangs and distorted facial features is just not hot. This vampire is the real deal; afraid of holy water and crosses, loves the fear in his victims and cannot enter the house unless invited. But being an old-school vampire, he morphs into something-like-a-bat in his true form.

But half the time, I was semi-crushing on David Tennant, who plays stylized vampire hunter Peter Vincent with the fake sideburns, eyeliner and leather pants. He steals every scene he’s in and even when he’s about to die, he still has his sense of humour. Totally crazy about him! Anton Yelchin totally kicked ass in the final scene (his suit!), just as those creatures from the soil popped up was so scary! This just shows remakes aren’t always horrible.

ONE MILLION TOOTHPASTES

SUPERBAD (2007)
– 4 out of 5 stars

Caught Superbad yesterday and it’s great!

Produced by those who brought you Knocked Up, it’s the same kind of crude humour and not-so-handsome boys with a real story behind it. The best friends – Seth and Evan – are leaving high school to go to college and the bad thing is that they are going to different colleges. In order to make themselves look like the coolest guys in school, they plan to get booze for the party and try to get their dream girls. But who knows what can happen in one day when they have got “McLovin” for a friend, meet two crazy cops and one night of hilarious happenings?? Though it’s filled with rude language and a bit of nudity, it’s essentially about the two best friends who are afraid for their future without each other.